Judgment Before Sunset

By Stanley Moses Chege

Judgment before sunset is an interesting novel whose story depicts how important a village member is in the Agikuyu context especially when one goes missing. The novel further narrates how cases were heard and determined in one of the villages in Mt. Kenya region.
The entire village is rocked with great fear because of the repellant kidnappings. Murugu is an ambitious and stubborn boy and nothing will stop him from getting whatever his heart desires regardless of the prevailing circumstance and his disciplinarian mother.
Mmbi, a respected woman is considered to be the wisest woman in the village but will she stand the test of the day after she is appointed as one of the Judges in a case whereby the accused persons are her own grandchildren? The villagers keep a close watch on the case proceedings.
The story has been presented in a simple and easy to understand language. It borrows a lot from the Kikuyu community in terms of culture, proverbs and sayings coupled with the use of African names and scenes. The author has used sarcasm, hilarity and superstition to make the story more interesting. It has captured various themes that include crime, superstition, hard work, discipline and indiscipline. Because of the episodes, dramas and scenarios featured in the story the reader’s fingers will keep on turning pages wanting to know what will happen next.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Apr 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9781482875997

Stanley Moses Chege

The story has been presented in a simple and easy to understand language. It borrows a lot from the largest community in Kenya in terms of culture, proverbs and sayings coupled up with the use of African names and scenes. The author has used sarcasm, hilarity and superstition to make the story more interesting. It has captured various themes that include crime, superstition, hard work, discipline and indiscipline. Because of the episodes, dramas and scenarios featured in the story the reader’s fingers will keep on turning pages wanting to know what will happen next.

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Copyright © 2016 by Stanley Moses Chege.

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 1

It is about 5:00 O’clock in the morning. Everyone is at the fire place. There is pitch silence while grief looms the entire room. Everyone is holding his chicks between his palms. The fire is diminishing but no one seems to notice. It is a cold morning but no one seems to feel it. Everyone is lost in thoughts. Likewise, the village is reduced to a grave yard. Silence dominates the entire village while fear takes grip with no one moving around.

I have always suggested that this boy be locked in his room until things cool down! Mwatũ was such a loony to have uttered such words. The man could never think positively rather, he always spoke negatively either to discourage someone or to worsen the situation. No one expected that to be the best statement of breaking the silence. The big mouthed man was a careless talker.

Njiigua rose with a point of order. Time is not on our side. I thought we were here to come up with a strategy on how to find our brother but instead, Mwatũ is busy putting blame on others. Did we not agree that each person was to go his own direction and then we would meet before sunset to discuss the next course of action if Murugu will not have been found? Mũmbi lamented. Mwatũ was not satisfied with Mũmbi’s decision. Although she had made a wise ruling that was fair to all, Mwatũ received it half heartedly. The man wanted to be assigned a different route that would see him quench his thirst. Beer always came first in his agendas. The direction that he had been assigned to would have seen him go thirsty the whole day. The illicit beer that he used to take had been banned in that area. His plea to swap with Njiigua bore no fruits after Mũmbi blasted him on the face with plain facts that revealed his ill plans. Your father was not a drunkard and I do not know where you got this thirst for beer from Mũmbi who was a widow exclaimed.

The entire family was worried following the disappearance of Murugu. Kidnapping had become so frequent not only at Kamacharia but within the entire County of Murang’a. Everyone lived in fear. Children had to be escorted to school in the morning while going back home, they used to walk in groups. There was tension everywhere because of the prevailing circumstances. Everyone was at risk, big and small none was safe. The local administration had organised several meetings whereby villagers were called to be on high alert and to be more vigilant to any stranger.

Several people had lost their lives in the hands of kidnappers for the past few months. Any stranger was treated with a lot of suspicion. Murugu’s family was in a dilemma. The family feared that the boy might have been kidnapped. At the same time they feared that their son might have fallen into the hands of the youth that was charged with the responsibility of offering security in each village. Although the youth had rescued several people who had been kidnapped, some innocent people had lost their lives in the hands of the same young men. As much as the Government had cautioned the youth against taking law into their own hands, they were far from heeding to the call. Some people had taken advantage of the group and so they used it to settle scores whereby they could sell out people whom they wished to eliminate. Thank God this did not go for long before the County’s intelligence came to learn about it. The administration now changed its structures and also it formulated some polices that saw security enhanced. The most affected village was that of Kamatũ. It was believed that Murugu had visited that village because he was last seen in the company of some boys from that village.

It was at around 6:00 O’clock in the morning. Everyone had gathered at the fire place when they heard some foot steps approaching. The footsteps were nearing with trickle of every second. It was now obvious that the foot steps were coming towards the kitchen where everyone was. Mwatũ rushed to the door and he locked it. Stop locking the door we are your visitors, a voice of a woman declared from outside. In a few seconds there was a knock on the door. Njiigua was swift to open.

Although there was slight darkness, visibility of three people was evident. It was now clear that the three comprised of a woman, a man and a boy. It was Murugu who was being brought home by his neighbours. The woman who was their neighbour had sent her son to his aunt. The boy decided to call Murugu to accompany him. No child wanted to walk alone during that worrying period. The two boys went swimming on their way back home. While they were still swimming, a woman screamed. They did not know where the woman was screaming from. They ran to the nearest home to take refuge. Although the screaming ceased immediately, that one alone was enough signal that somewhere all was not well.

The boys stayed in that home until the head of the family came late at night. It was too late for Murugu to go home. They were unable to reach any member of his family and so the boys spent the night with their neighbours. Mũmbi thanked her neighbours for bringing her son early enough before they started looking for him all over.

The lad had gone missing for a whole day. Immediately after closing school, Murugu was seen briefly before he vanished. Mwatũ could not take chances. He looked at Murugu straight on the face before asking, Where have you been since yesterday? Murugu gave a shy smile before answering his brother.

After Mwatũ’s question, it was now Njiigua’s turn. Njiigua was a no nonsense man in the family. He stood up full of anger as he neared Murugu with his face revealing terror. Mũmbi grabbed Murugu by his hand and pulled him aside. Are you not ashamed of your neighbours, stop it Mũmbi shouted at Njiigua who was already folding his shirt from the arms. The neighbours who had brought Murugu excused themselves and went back home. Mũmbi thanked them for taking care of Murugu. Immediately after the neighbours had left Mũmbi looked up at Njiigua. The man could read something from his mother’s face; she was not happy with his reaction.

This is not the time to fight but it is a time to rejoice, the woman spoke authoritatively. Mũmbi reminded everyone how worried they were just a few minutes ago and there was Njiigua trying to fight instead of thanking God for bringing Murugu back home safely. Mũmbi was a woman of great humour and sometimes her children could not understand her.

The boy then looked up. Instead of looking at his brothers who had been hard on him, he looked at his mother. Murugu explained how he had accompanied his friend who had been sent to his aunt at Kamune to deliver a message. His story was consistent and similar to that of the woman who had brought him home. Everyone believed him and so no action was taken against him. However he was reminded yet again that he should try and stay at home and avoid unwarranted movements lest he fall prey to the kidnappers.

I do not like staying at home alone, Murugu replied. Why don’t you like staying at home alone? Mũmbi asked. I always fear that History might repeat itself. Why are you talking in bits, can you speak up and tell us the kind of History you are talking about. Njiigua shouted at Murugu. Murugu was left with no choice. He had to speak it all.

Murugu: You all know Magana, the `village thief’.

Mũmbi pulled her seat closer to Murugu when the name Magana was mentioned.

Njiigua: Do not tell us that the crook has ever set those dirty feet of his in our compound? the angry man said as he looked for the shortest route to leave the room.

He has Murugu answered hesitantly.

Mũmbi interrupted. What deals do you have with that criminal if this could happen behind our backs and you have never reported this to anyone in this family? his mother was mad as she asked the question.

Murugu: The incident was worse than that of Gathua. Everyone in the village blamed Gathua when Magana went one midnight and stole some of his chicken and as if that was not enough he promised Gathua that he would return another day for the ones that remained. Didn’t Gathua raise the alarm? And what was Magana’s response. He shouted at Gathua and he commanded him to shut up asking him whether the chicks belonged to him. You will all recall Gathua’s comments. He said that his family was afraid to raise another alarm since they failed to understand what kind of thief he was because of the kind of guts the man had considering also his ironical words, `are the chicks your?’ I was more frightened than Gathua that afternoon. Murugu seemed to have concluded but he got a disgusting shock from Mũmbi. That was Gathua’s experience with Magana but we wanted to hear yours Mũmbi shouted at Murugu.

Murugu: You will all recall Mwatũ’s cock that went missing. Mwatũ who had maintained silence for quite some time stood up on his feet.

Mwatũ: I hope it was not Magana who stole it.

Murugu: Who else could do that?

Mwatũ: I am going for it now.

Murugu: He ate it the same day.

Mũmbi: Does it mean that you went to his house or how did you come to known that?

Murugu looked at both Mũmbi and Mwatũ for a couple of seconds before saying, I cooked the cock for him.

Mwatũ: You must be out of your mind.

Mũmbi: There is something terribly wrong with this boy. His mother seemed to be provoked by Murugu.

This is how it happened, Murugu decided to tell the whole truth. I was resting under the avocado tree outside the house when I saw a shadow of a man loom in front of me. On looking behind, I found Magana staring at me. When he opened his mouth to speak he warned me to keep quiet through gestures. He asked me in whispers, who is with you?" I was hesitant to speak but he removed a very sharp big knife and threatened to kill me if I failed to cooperate. I told him that I was alone at home. He smiled as he dragged me towards the kitchen. He commanded me to lit some fire. I was confused. I was filled with